Fluid meter having a thermostatic device



Nov. 24, 1942. c. J. BASSLER 2,302,831

FLUID METER HAVING A THERMOSTATIC DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 26, 1937INVENTOR. L'arlus J 5555 Z EP 67 66 BY m I Arrows/5y v Patented Nov. 24,1942 FLUID METER HAVING A THERMOSTATIG DEVICE Carlos J. Bassler,Alhambra, Calit, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Bank of America National Trust and SavingsAssociation, Los A'ngeles, Calif.

Original application January 26, 1937, Serial No.

122,445, now Patent No.

2,217,855, dated October 15, 1940. Divided and this applicationSeptember 3, 1940, Serial No. 355,163. In Can-- ada April 1, 1940 8Claims. (01. 73-250) This application is a division of application filedJanuary 26, 1937, bearing Serial Number 122,445, new Patent No.2,217,855, dated October The metering of fluids produced by oil wells.

involves more than merely measuring by volume, for volume alone meanslittle to the industry. Oil, like other liquids, changes its volume withchanges in temperature and, unless this be taken into account, the truevolume of the oil and.

hence its value is not known. Oil volumes are generally reckoned at 60Fahrenheit and since this is the usual temperature at which meteringvalues are determined, it is very desirous that meters totalize orindicate the measurement of the oil at 60 Fahrenheit volume. So manygallons or barrels of oil at 60 Fahrenheit, or any other temperature,has a definite meaning to the industry, and, a meter which canautomatically compensate for temperature differences so as to avoidmathematics and possible human error and time, would be of great valueto the oil industry. Thi i true whether the liquids being measured arefrom a flowing oil well or from some other source.

In no sense is this invention to be considered as limited to themeasurement of oil, for it is within the scope of this invention toinclude the measuring of any liquid whether alone or mixed with otherliquids or mixed with gases and solids. II

this invention so that one skilled in the art can make and operate same,drawing is presented with specifications describing at least one form inwhich the invention can be practiced, but, it

is understood, that this disclosure is not a limiting factor except aslimited by the depending claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross section of a meter embodying theinvention,

Fig. 2 shows the invention in enlarged plan view and as applied to thepiston oi the meter, the piston being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of Fig. 2 taken substantially on the line3--3 thereof, but illustrated on a slightly smaller scale; parts arebroken away for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the invention.

The meter section shown in Fig. 1 is substantially the same asapplicants meter shown in Patent #1,905,549 issued April 25, 1933, andPatent #1386364 granted November 8, 1932. It comprises inner and outerconcentric casings I and 2 respectively, spaced from one another toprovide passages 3 and 4 for the flow of the mixture to and from themeter chamber 5. Removable end plates 6 and l are provided to close thechamber and completely house the internal parts of the meter. outletports Ill and Il are controlled by shiftable valve elements l2 and I3. Apiston l4 reciprocates in the chamber 5 by the force of the flowing oilmixture through the chamber 5 and freely slides upon the guide rod itwhich is fixed to the valve elements I2 and I3. Adjustable stops [6 andll are fixed on the guide rod and are forced toward the ends of thechamber 5 by the piston, and when forced toward an end of the chamber,the stops force the valve elements l2 and I3 in a common direction toeither open or close their respective ports 8,9, It) and housing for theauxiliary piston, the outer meter.

casing I has a protruded hub-like portion IS in which is a portedannular partition 20, forming a cylinder and a sliding surface for aninner ported sleeve Ill. The sleeve it has two inlet ports 22 and 23and, outlet ports 24 and 25. The partition has inlet ports 28 and 21 andoutlet ports 28 and 29.. The ports of the sleeve and partition are soarranged that one set of inlet and outlet ports on either side of a webto will register so as to admit the mixture under pressure from passage3 to one side of the web and release th mixture on the other side of theweb to be free to flow into the passage 4. This being necessary in orderto move the web 30 in either direction and force the valves elements l2and IS in either direction to carry them over the dead center. A shaft3|, threaded at its end is fixed to th center of the web 30 by a locknut 32. Pins fixed to the Web fit loosely in the slotted ends of across-arm member 34. The member 3.4 is rigidly fixed to the shaft 3| sothat it will turn with the shaft and turnweb 30 so as to open and Inletports 8 and 9 and close the valved ports in partition 25. The other endof the shaft is journalled or mounted in a common coupler 35 which isfixed to an end of the guide rod l5 so that the rod l5 and shaft 3|translate together. A segment-gear 38 fixed to shaft 3| slides in ameshed relation with a segment-gear 31 which is fixed to a polygonal andspiral shaft 38 to be presently described. Through the rocking of shaft38, gear 31 will turn the gear 36, shaft 3| and sleeve 2| to a limiteddegree and cause registration and unregistration of certain ports in thesleeve and partition. A partition 39 divides the auxiliary pistonchamber from the metering chamber 5.

A bushing 40 in the web 4| of the piston is internally grooved to fitand slide along the spiral shaft 38 and turn it so as to operate thesleeve valve I8 and an indicating instrument 42 through a chain of gearsnot shown. Indicating devices are well known and no attempt will be madehere to describe any particular indicating device. Such an indicatinginstrument, however, has a dial section where the number of volumetricunits of mixture passed through the meter are totalized and readable.

To release excess liquid and prevent a liquid jamb. from behind thepiston l4 when on dead center at the left end of the meter of Fig. l, a

small relief plunger 43 is employed. An adjustable resilient means i lpermits the plunger to move upon a predetermined pressure in chamber5.and thusrelieve the chamber side 5' of sufficient pressure to permitthe shaft |5 to freely enter said chamber and to completely open orclose said ports 9, II. and 8 and I0, respectively. Apassage t5conductsthe mixture to the plunger to relieve pressure inchamber 5'. A removablecap 4-6 may be provided to gain access to the plunger chamber. Theelement 43. is a check valve and is urged to closed position by thespring 44, the valvenormally remains closed.

Open annular grooves 41 are provided inthe casing 2 about the. peripheryof th valve elements l2 and I3. The purpose of these grooves is toequalize-the mixture pressure about the valve surfaces and preventbinding. and thus assure smooth and eflicient operation ofthe meter.

The valve surfaces l2 and I3 about the perimeter of the valve elementsI2 and I3 are not continuous so as to fit closelyagainst the cylinderwall 2 at all points. Portions of the perimeterare receded so as toreducefriction and also to permit oil to reach the grooves 41. Theportions of the valve elements which do have sliding friction with thecylinder walls require lubrication, and it has been found in practiceadvantageous to equalize the lubricant pressure about all surfaces ofthe valves .where there .is sliding friction so as to prevent bindingand assure free operation. The meter isprovided with feet 48= and adrain 49. The outlet of the meter is shown in dotted lines at 5B and theinlet at the bulge 5|. Heavy flanges 52, 53 and 54 join parts Hi, and 6.of the outer casing and are securely held together by numerous bolts.55. A bracket 55 supports a shelf 51 which holds the indicator 42 in aposition for easy access to. a. totalizing device beneath the cover 58.

A, sampler 59 is mounted upon one end of the meter for periodicallydepositing samples of the mixture passing through the metering system.Adetailed explanation will not be made of the sampler. See parentapplication for details thereof.

The temperature. compensating. device. 60

shown in the drawing figures comprises a thermostat 6| which is composedof a block having a chamber 62 closed by a cap 63. The cap 53 isthreaded so asto be removable for placing fluid in the chamber 62. Thefluid is placed in the chamber 62 when said chamber is in an uprightposition, so that it can be completely filled before the cap 63 isscrewed down. A vent B l is provided in the cap and is closed by a screw55. When the chamber 52 is loaded with the fluid, the screw is removedbefore the cap is screwed down. The vent (it permits the air to escapeand thus allows the complete filling of the chamher with the fluid. -Thefluid is generally the oil being measured. This has been found the mostsatisfactory and expedient means in practice. When it is certain thatthe chamber is completely filled with the fluid, the screw 65 is screwedinto the vent.

At the other end of the thermostat is a plunger 66 which reciprocates ina bore 61 of the thermostat block. The bore being enlarged at 68 topermit of the usual packing and gland members to prevent escape of theoil from the chamber 52. An annular flange-like bracket 69 is providedto hold the thermostat onto the web 4| of the piston. The plunger isfixed to a rack 10 which is meshed to a pinion gear H which, in turn, isfixed to a shaft 12 having one end journalled in a side wall of thehousing '53 and a section near the other end journalled in the web it,of the piston. On both sides of the piston web are two curved radialarms '14 and T5 of the form shown in the drawing. One side of the armsis mitered or tapered at 16 for a purpose to be presently disclosed.

At the outer extreme ends of the thermostat and rack assembly areprovided cross arms 1! and 18. Springs 19 connect the ends of the crossarms as shown so as to urge cross arm 18 and rack 10 and the plunger 56toward the thermostat chamber so that whenever the fluid in chamber 62contracts, the rack 10 will be retracted, and through the pinion gearll, place radial arms M and 15 in the position shown in Fig. 2. Thestops l6 and I1 upon the shaft l5 are recessed and mitered or tapered asshown at 8?) to receive the tapered surface 16 of the radial arms. Athreaded bolt 8| is held in a threaded bore'of the shaft 25 and can betightly screwed down when the stop is correctly positioned. The stop I6is adjustable along the shaft l5 by unscrewing the bolt 8| which isslidable in the stop slot 82. The screw head is counter-sunk in the slot83of the stop. An adjustable screw 84 pivotally attached to bolt :8! isthreaded in the stop It and maybe turned so as to move-the stop axiallyalong the shaft l5. The purpose'of moving the stop I6 is to set it atthe proper point so that the valves will open and close at the propertime, this feature providing a micro-adjustment. In other words, toshorten the strokeof the piston, the screw 8| is loosened so that theheadthereof will ride in the slot 83 when the stop I6 is moved to theleft, Fig. 2, by turning the micro-adjustment screw 84 in a clockwisedirection. After the stop is positioned, the screw or bolt 3| istightened. Reverse rotation of the screw 84 allows the stop to be shovedto the right when the screw 8| is loose. The purpose of the taperedsurfaces 16 is to vary the amount of the piston displacement in thecylinder 5. The amount of displacement depends upon the temperature of.themixture being measured, and the, position of the .mitered surfaces 16of the. arms 14 and.'l5. It can vbe seen, therefore,

that the position of the sliding surfaces 16 will depend upon thetemperature of the fluid in chamber 62 of the thermostat which in turnwill Operation The oil mixture under pressure will enter the manifoldpassage 3 of the meter and pass through the opening 9 and by itspressure, force the piston |4 toward the right as shown in Fig. l.

The piston will move until the boss of the radial arm engages the stopl6. This translation of the piston I4 will, by virtue of the bushing 46,turn the spiral shaft 38, which, in turn, will rock the gears 36 and 31to open valve port 21 to permit the mixture to enter the chamber to theleft of the web and force the web 30, shaft 3| and guide rod I5 to theright. The mixture-pressure will, therefore, urge the pistons l4 and ISin the same direction, to the right as shown in Fig. 1, and theircombined effort will be of sufficient order to readily switch the valveelement l2 and It to the right and reverse the operation of the meter.This combined effort takes place when the piston I4 pushes the stop Ittoward the right with the aid of the piston M which is, at the sametime, urged toward the right by the fluid pressure to the left of theweb 3|]. Shafts i5 and 3| are coupled together; therefore, move? ment ofeither the stops or the web 30 must shift both shafts together as asingle element. The coupling or socket permits the two shafts torelatively turn with respect to each other upon their axes to a limiteddegree. When opening 23 registers with 21 to permit entry of the mixtureto one side of web 30, valve port 24 will be opened to permit mixture tothe right of web 30 to pass out of its chamber and into the outletmanifold 4 and thence to the outlet 56 toward the yard line. Themixture-force applied against the web 30 aids the force applied to theleft of the piston web 4| to carry the valve elements l2 and I3 pasttheir respective dead center positions so as to close inlet port 9 andoutlet port II and open ports 8 and I0 so as to allow the mixture toforce the piston web 4| to the left. When this complete operation hastaken place, the spiral shaft 33 has caused the indicating, in theinstrument 42, of the volume necessary to displace the piston web l4 inits stroke from left to right. The volumes may be indicated in gallonsor barrels.

Upon the open of ports 8 and Hi, the mixture will enter the chamber tothe right of the web 4| and urge it to the left until the boss of theradial arm l4 engages the stop At this point, the web 30 of theauxiliary piston had been rotated sufficient to open the ports 2226 and2529 so that the mixture-pressure in the chamber to the right of the web30 will aid the pressure to the right of the Web 4| and together, theircombined pressure will urge the stop H to the left and force the closingof ports 8 and Ill and the opening of the ports 9 and l to cause reverseoperation of the meter.

The plunger 4.3 is provided to make room for the excess liquid to theleft of the web 4| caused by the shaft l5 when it is forced to the leftend of the meter. This is in order to prevent a liquid jamb.

In order to indicate the volumes of the mixture as of a predeterminedtemperature, preferably 60 Fahrenheit, some of the oil to be measuredhas been placed in the thermostat chamber 62 while at a temperature of60 Fahrenheit and of a sufficient quantity to completely fill thechamber. This oil will contract and expand in direct proportion to thecontraction and expansion of the mixture being metered. Therefore, ifthe mixture being metered happens to be warmer than 60 Fahrenheit, theliquid in chamber 62 will expand forcing the plunger 66 and rack 10 tothe right, turning the gear clockwise and likewise the radial arms 14and 15. This will permit the piston web 4| to be further displaced thanit would have been had the radial arms remained as shown in Fig. 2, thedisplacement being in direct proportion to the increase in volume of theliquid over its volume at 60 Fahrenheit, and the boss of the radial arm15 riding downwardly upon the mitered surface of the stops, as shown inFig. 2. In Fig. 2, however, the maximum downward position of the arms l4and 15 are shown.

Should the oil being measured be cooler than 60 Fahrenheit, the reverseaction as described above, would take place making the stroke of thepiston web 4| shorter instead of longer in direct proportion to thetemperature difference between 60 F. and the temperature of the mixturebeing measured.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a metering device for fluids including a casing having a fiowchamber and an indicator to show the volumes of fluid passed through thechamber, a piston in the chamber reciprocated by the flow of fluidthrough the chamber, a piston shaft, a stop element fixed to the shafton each side of the piston and spaced therefrom, temperature responsivemeans fixed to the piston in the chamber and having an arm adjustableintermediate the piston and one of the stop elements to vary the strokeof the piston in accordance to the temperature of the fluid, valve meansconnected to the shaft to cause reversal motion of the piston, andmechanism connected to the piston and the indicator for operating it.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the stop elements hasrecessed biased portions for engagement with the arm and provides largearea contact between the arm and said one of the stop elements.

3. In a meter for measuring liquids having a volume indicator and a flowchamber with a reciprocable piston therein, a shaft for the piston,means coupled with the piston for operating the indicator, andthermostatic means in the chamber responsive to temperature changes ofthe liquid being measured for controlling the length of the pistonstroke, a stop element adjustably fixed on the shaft, said thermostaticmeans including a casing having a plunger and a chamber filled with anexpansive fluid adapted to shift the plunger, and an arm curvilinearlyshiftable intermediate the piston and stop element, and rotary meanscoupling the plunger of the thermostatic means with the arm to move it,said arm having a long taper and said element an oblique surface tocoact with the taper of the arm, valves in the chamber for reversing theflow of liquid therethrough and the direction of the piston, andmechanism to shift the valves.

4. In a meter for measuring liquids having a,

fluid, a bore in the casing having a plunger reciprocable by the fluid,a rack fixed to the plunger and extending from the casing, radial armsadjacent the piston having a common shaft, a pinion gear fixed to theshaft and meshed with the rack so that reciprocating movement of theplunger and rack will reciprocate the arms,

valves in the chamber to cause reversal of the piston, and meansoperative by the piston to shift the valves.

5. ma meter for measuring liquids having a volume indicator and a flowchamber with a reciprocable piston therein, means coupled with thepiston for operating the indicator, valve means coupled with the pistonto control flow of liquid through the chamber, and means supported bythe'piston responsive to temperature changes of P the liquid beingmeasured for controlling the length of the piston stroke, the latterrrieans including radial tapered arms which move at right angles to themotion of the piston, a shaft for the piston having spaced apart stopsfixed thereto to engage the arms.

6. In a metering device for fluids including a casing having a flowchamber and an indicator to show the volumes of fluid passed through thechamber, a piston in the chamber reciprocated by the flow of fluidthrough the chamber, a piston shaft, a stop element fixed to the shafton each side of the piston and spaced therefrom, temperature responsivemeans fixed tothe piston in the chamber and having anarm adjustableintermediate the piston and one of the stop ele- .ments to vary thestroke of the piston in accordance to the temperature of the fluid,valve means connected to the shaft to cause reversal motion of thepiston, and mechanism connected to the piston and the indicator foroperating it, said arm having a tapered portion designed to vary thespace action between the piston and said one of the stop elements,

'7. In a metering device for fluids including a casing having a flowchamber and an indicator to show the volumes of fluid passed through thechamber, a shaft in the chamber, a piston slidable on the shaft in thechamber and reciprocated by the flow of fluid through the chamber, andspiral means connecting the piston with the indicator, a stop element oneach side of the piston and spaced therefrom and fixed to the shaft,temperature responsive means in the chamber supported by the piston,said means having arms adjustable intermediate the piston and the stopelements to vary the stroke of the piston in accordance to thetemperature of the fluid, the arms having long tapered portions and eachstop element having a recessed oblique for engagement with itsrespective arm, valves for causing reciprocation of the piston, andmechanism operative by the piston to operate the valves.

8. In a meter for measuring liquids having a volume indicator and a flowchamber with a reciprocable piston therein, rod means coupled with thepiston for operating the indicator, and means in the chamber fixed tothe piston responsive to temperature changes of the liquid beingmeasured for controlling the length of the piston stroke, a

stop element in the chamber, said temperature responsive means includinga casing having a plunger and a chamber filled with an expansive fluid,adapted to shift the plunger, and an arm curvilinearly shiftableintermediate the piston .and stop element, and rotary means coupling theplunger with the arm to move it, valves to reverse the direction of thepiston, and mechanism operated by the piston to shift the valves.

CARLOS J. BASSLER.

